Reintegrative shaming praised

I acquired "Knowing Feeling" today and immediately set aside agency paperwork (one never finishes it anyway)to read David Moore's chapter on affect theory and the criminal justice system (CJS). Moore has written what I have been thinking so much more artfully and economically than I have been thinking it that I feel compelled to express immediate gratitude. His discussion of the conflict between the aims and means of the CJS and his observation that "Modern Western theory and practice has generally failed to distinguish between shame put to destructive, negative ends, and shame put to positive constuctive ends", echoes my own feelings about the current CJS approach to domestic violence in general and to its handling of DV offenders in particular. As Moore puts it, “while the rehabilitation and social reintegration of the offender are generally...espoused as ultimate goals of criminal justice [and of DV offender treatment, I would add...RK], the actual means employed by courts (i.e. incarceration) [or gender-shaming treatment approaches...RK] are as likely to achieve the opposite, to produce ritual humiliation and stigmatization...” I believe the alternative model suggested, which Moore refers to as ‘reintegrative shaming’ (an authoritATIVE vs. either extreme of authitARIAN or permissive approach) is some kin to what I have been attempting in my shame-focused work with DV offenders. For my money, Moore’s application of Tomkins’ and Nathanson’s shame and affect work to criminology is one elegant piece of synthesizing.

I am eagerly anticipating the other sixteen chapters in “Knowing Feeling”! Is further rambling commentary (such as the above) appropriate to this forum? Is David Moore a member of the Tomkins Institute and/or can he be contacted?

• The Purpose Of This Forum by Don Nathanson, 1/30/97
  • Shame and Systems Thinking in Criminal Justice and Mental Health *Systems* by c.h., 1/30/97
    • Shaming Systems by Don Nathanson, 1/31/97
      • Thank You for the Response on Systems. Work Abuse Book Is at the Printers by c.h., 1/31/97
    • Shame in systems by Rich Kuyper, 2/1/97
      • Yes, Work Stress Is the Euphemism That Propogates Self-Shaming in the Work System by c.h., 2/2/97
        • Change in systems requires change in language by Don Nathanson, 2/2/97
          • A systems approach to shame and abuse by Rich Kuyper, 2/3/97
            • It isn't just shame by Don Nathanson, 2/3/97
          • A Neat Hope, Yes! And an Absolute Necessity by c.h., 2/3/97
        • Response to work stress by Margaret Blakely, LPC, 2/2/97
          • Go Get 'Em Margaret by Vick Kelly, 2/4/97
            • (No title) by Margaret Blakely, 2/6/97
              • Response to work stress by by Diane VanCleave, 8/12/98
        • Anyone Who Uses Tompkins' Language is a Change Agent....and Beware by c.h., 2/6/97
          • Change agent by Margaret Blakely, 2/8/97
      • The Genesis? by Lee D. Downs, D.Min., 2/24/97
        • Propose We Move Workplace Issues Out of This Forum by c.h., 2/26/97
          • No, Chauncey, Don't Go!! by Don Nathanson, 2/26/97
    • Potential of the Shame-Affect Forum to Support *Systems Interventions* by c.h., 2/9/97
      • Support and Vacations by Vick Kelly, 2/12/97